Native American Quotes

The Native American quotes below are just a sampling of the wisdom and insight passed on from generation to generation.

The words are timeless and carry messages from which we can still learn.

All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.~ Chief Seattle, Suqwamish and Duwamish

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Will you ever begin to understand the meaning of the very soil beneath your feet? From a grain of sand to a great mountain, all is sacred. Yesterday and tomorrow exist eternally upon this continent. We natives are guardians of this sacred place.~ Peter Blue Cloud, Mohawk

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Deer, I am sorry to hurt you, but the people are hungry.~ Choctaw hunter’s prayer

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We have lived upon this land from days beyond history’s records, far past any living memory, deep into the time of legend. The story of my people and the story of this place are one single story. We are always joined together.~ Pueblo elder

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It does not require many words to speak the truth.~ Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

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Look at me – I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches, but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love.~ Red Cloud, Sioux

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Native American Quotes

We had no churches, no religious organizations, no Sabbath day, no holidays, and yet we worshiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would assemble to sing or pray; sometimes in a small number, perhaps only two or three. Sometimes we prayed in silence, sometimes each one prayed aloud.~ Geronimo, Apache war chief

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Lightning is good. When lightning strikes a tree, people say that tree has been blessed and go to gather that wood for special purposes.~ Delmar Boni, Apache

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Grandfather says that when your friends die you must not cry. You must not hurt anybody or do harm to anyone. You must not fight. Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.~ Wovoka, Paiute

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All the mountains have their prayers and chants…as have the stars and markings in the sky and on the earth. It is their custom to keep the sky and the earth and the day and the night beautiful. The belief is that if this is done, living among the people of the earth will be good.~ Sandoval, Navajo

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This covers it all, the Earth and the Most High Powerwhose ways are beautiful.All is beautiful before me,All is beautiful behind me,All is beautiful above me,All is beautiful around me.~ Navajo song

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A council fire for all the nations shall be kindled. It shall be lighted for the Cherokee and for the Wyandot. We will kindle it also for the seven nations living toward the sunrise, and for the nations that dwell toward the sunset. All shall receive the Great Law and labor together for the welfare of man.~ attributed to Deganawidah, the Peacemaker, Huron holy man

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Native American Quotes

No person among us desires any other reward for performing a brave and worthy action, but the consciousness of having served his nation.~ Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea), Mohawk

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Our religion is not one of paint and feathers; it is a thing of the heart.~ follower of Handsome Lake, Seneca

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In the old days our people had no education. All their wisdom and knowledge came to them from dreams. They tested their dreams and in that way learned their own strength.~ Ojibwa elder

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Sell a country! Why not sell the air, the great sea, as well as the earth? Did not the Great Spirit make them all for the use of his children?~ Tecumseh, Shawnee

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We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills and winding streams with tangled growth as “wild.” To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.~ Luther Standing Bear, Rosebud Sioux

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Wakan’ tanka, when I pray to him, hears me. Whatever is good, he grants me.~ Teton Sioux Sun Dance song

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Native American Quotes

You have told me that Paradise is very beautiful. Is it more beautiful than the land of the musk ox in summer, when sometimes the mist blows over the little lakes in the early morning … and the loons cry very often? Can I see the caribou roam where I look, and can I feel the wind?~ Saltatha, Dogrib elder

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Trap, fish, and dig ground root, and you will never starve.~ Kias Peter, Gwich’in

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Look at me, friend!I come to ask for your dressSince there is nothing youcannot be used for.I come to beg you for this,Long-life maker.~ Kwakiutl prayer to a cedar tree

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The caribou were hunted in kayaks at the crossing of rivers and lakes, being driven out into the water where they could be easily overtaken … but the rules were very strict about those places. To break them would be an insult to the souls of the caribou.~ Ivaluardjuk, Igluik

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If you remember on waking that you have dreamed about things at a great distance, it is because your eyes have actually been there while you were asleep.~ Copper Inuit

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My words are tied in onewith the great mountains,with the great rocks,with the great trees,in one with my body and my heart.All of you see me,one with this world.~ Yokuts prayer

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Native American Quotes

I am a red man. If the Great Spirit had desired me to be a white man he would have made me so in the first place. Now we are poor but we are free. No white man controls our footsteps. If we must die we die defending our rights.~ Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Sioux

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I went up to heaven and saw God and all the people who had died a long time ago. God told me to come back and tell my people they must be good and love one another, and not fight, or steal, or lie. He gave me this dance to give my people.~ Wovoka, Paiute shaman (referring to the Ghost Dance)